I have been writing a lot about vulnerability and shame as of late. Feeling vulnerable is all about getting out of your comfort zones. And as you may see, this is one way to improve performance. “Getting out of our comfort zones” I’ve been seeing this graphic a lot lately. Photos of people jumping off cliffs, […]
Sportspeople often talk about being ‘in the zone’, but I’m sure many are unaware of what this actually means. The zone in question to give it it’s full title is the ‘zone of optimal functioning’ or when an athlete performs to their absolute maximum – has the perfect game. That is why it is the […]
“Why am I not reaching my training goals?”. “How did I achieve that world-class performance?”. “Could I be overtraining and need to back off?”. Few athletes pay as much attention to their mental training, as they do their physical training. A clearly defined athletic goal set at the start of the season may be pursued […]
In recent years, the field of applied sport psychology has broadened to encompass not only the use of problem-solving approaches concerned with mental skills training, but also more humanistic, person-centred approaches that utilise skills grounded in counselling (Hack, 2005). Within the counselling psychology profession, the personal qualities of the practitioner, such as empathy and congruence, […]
n 2013, it is impossible to go into any workout facility and not see the majority of the exercisers with headphones in or to walk into a team’s changing room and for it to be silent. Music plays an influential role in our society and the world of sport and exercise is no exception. Advances […]
Sport-confidence has been defined as “the belief or degree of certainty individuals possess about their ability to be successful in sport” (Vealey, 1986). This addresses the degree to which an athlete is sure of his/her ability. Research on self-confidence in sport has shown that athletes and coaches identify self-confidence as critical to performance and there is […]
The London Olympics of 2012 showcased a buffet of sporting heroes, but the Games also proved a ‘choking’ minefield for many athletes. Erratic shooting and overambitious passes in the Women’s Basketball resulted in the headline, ‘Team GB choke in final quarter’18. The Australian Men’s 4x100m relay team was accused of ‘choking’ away the Gold 1 […]
For all of his greatness, I have always had my reservations about Rory McIlroy. He undoubtedly has spectacular golfing abilities and to have achieved what he has so far already makes him one of the greats. However my suspicions were first set racing when we witnessed the spectacular choke at the 2011 U.S Masters. Who […]
Choking in sport is a topic which is widely discussed among sport psychologists because of its negative effect on athletic performance. Performing highly challenging skills under immense pressure and in situations which are important to athletes has been something which has affected many athletes throughout their careers . The explicit monitoring theory is a key […]
In sport there is an increasing awareness of how important psychological factors are within athletic performance and it is now being recognized that physical talent is not the only component which leads to success (Gucciardi, Gordon & Dimmock, 2008). In the scientific and sport community, mental toughness is viewed as one of the most important attributes […]